How many songwriters does it take to write one song-of-the-year contender? In the case of Estelle's Grammy-nominated American Boy, seven one fewer than the category's other four songs combined. American Boy was written and recorded over several months in three cities, and the story of its creation mirrors the jet-setting romance of the lyrics.

Radio played Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' Please Read the Letter the least of all record-of-the-year Grammy nominees. Maybe it doesn't deserve to win over Leona Lewis' omnipresent Bleeding Love or M.I.A.'s ever-changing Paper Planes. But it recombines deep blues, American folk and the Plant/Jimmy Page catalog, thus redefining the music of both artists.

If Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III wins album of the year, the rapper won't be alone at the podium. The award, bestowed on an album's artists, producers, engineers and mixers, means Wayne's world of 42 contributors may congregate on stage to thank God and their moms.

"I'll be an old troubadour when I'm gone," George Strait sings on Troubadour. But will he be old and Grammy-less? The "king of country" and overdue veterans AC/DC, Judas Priest, James Moody, Rush and Neil Young are all in the running to score their first Grammy on Feb. 8. USA TODAY's Edna Gundersen takes stock with handicap assists from Grammy prognosticator Paul Grein, Yahoo's Chart Watch columnist.text will go here

The sophomores, juniors and seniors on the Connecticut women's basketball team reached their first Final Four last season. Losers in the national semifinals, the Huskies start this season with the No. 1 ranking in the USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches' Poll. Connecticut was a near-unanimous pick, getting 30 of 31 first-place votes.